Annunciator



2&25274 Dec 24, 1935. E. G. DE VALERA ANNUNCIATOR Filed Aug. 27, 1954 C; glfiNTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated :annunciators in general, and particularly to the kind equipped with visible and audible annunci- ;ator means.

The prime object of this invention is to pro- :vide a self-resetting annunciator.

Another object of this invention is to provide :a .device of this type which is not only inexpensive in construction, but extremely simple in detv sign, manufacture, and operation and which will effectively respond, when being energized.

Another object of this invention is to provide :a construction of grouped, individual solenoids provided with individual armatures connected lit with one another and operating in unison, and .adapted to actuate visible annunciator elements without the requirement of annunciator re- ;storing mechanisms, such as hand levers, or sim- :ilar devices for restoring the elements to their normal or inoperative position.

Another object of this invention is to provide in connection with such visible annunciator elements, .an audible annunciator of a simple, inexpensive and effective construction, adapted to 5.5 operate in conjunction and simultaneously with :said visible annunciator elements.

The foregoing and still further objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description and the accompanying drawing, the latter forming diagrammatical illustrations of one of the many possible arrangements of the present invention, and which drawing obviously is intended for explanatory purposes only, without limiting this invention to the actual showing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of my device,

Fig, 2 is a partial front elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a modified form of a casing employed 40 in connection with my device, and

Fig. 4 is a modified form of the construction of my device, held purely diagrammatically.

In the figures, numeral I denotes a source of energy, shown in the form of a battery, but which -15 may readily be substituted by a transformer or a .direct line connection. From one end of the electric power source extends a conductor H leading to the terminals l2, l2 and I2 of individual energizing switches, which may be disposed at 2:1) different localities. The other end of the power source is connected by means of conduit [3 to solenoid Id of an audible annunciator, and from there the connection continues through conduit 15 to one end of solenoids IE, IS and IS". The .35 other end of the solenoids are connected by means of conduits ll, I1 and H" to the other terminals 58, I8 and [8" of the switches.

Passing through the hollow interiors of solenoids l6, l6 and I6 is a tubular member l9 preferably made of brass or any other non-magnetic material. This tubular member serves as spacer and connector for the solenoids and is provided with longitudinal slots 29 and 20', the purpose of which will be explained presently.

Within tubular member I9 there is operatively 10 mounted a series of individual armatures 2|, 2| and 2!, corresponding in numbers to that of the solenoids, and being connected with one another and at the same time spaced from each other by means of non-magnetic connectors 22. From these connectors extend carriers 23, supporting visible annunciators 24, 24 and 24". These annunciators are preferably mounted in registry with their respective armatures 2|, 2| and 2!. casing 25 provided with transparent windows or ports 26, 26 and 26", which ports are in registry with the centers of solenoids l6, l6 and IS.

The audible annunciator consists of solenoid l4, wound about a tubular member 21, in which 25 latter is placed a resilient member 28 in the form of a spring. At both ends of the spring are provided balls 29 and 29, made of magnetic material, and next to the balls at the end of the solenoids are provided sound producing abut- 30 ments 3% and 39. In abutment 30 there is shown an adjusting screw 3| adapted to control the movement of balls 29 and 29' by controlling the tension of spring 28.

At the connection of conduit i5, leading from the solenoid M, there is arranged an interrupter marked 32, intended for use when direct current is employed. When alternating current is available, either through a transformer or directly, this interrupter may be omitted. 40

I prefer to make the visible annunciator elements from differently colored material, or provide them with numerals or other means of distinguishing them. They may be either opaque or transparent, and when transparent a light source 5 may be employed behind them in order to make them more distinctly visible. For this purpose I may employ either a neon lamp (not shown) extending over the entire interior of the casing behind ports 26, 26' and 26", or I may employ individual electric bulbs mounted directly behind each of the ports and adapted to be individually operated in unison with each of the individual solenoids.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated in broken lines The entire mechanism is enclosed in a tive port.

an arrangement of electric bulbs and their connections which are shown to be mounted in parallel with their respective solenoids. Secured to lead I3, at 33, is a conduit 34 connected with one terminal of each of the bulbs 35, 35 and 35". To all leads connected with contact arms l8, I8 and [8? of the switches are joined suitable conduits 36, 36' and 36" leading to the other terminals of the bulbs. Thus when any one of the contacts [2 and I8, [2 and I8 and I2" and I8" are pressed, together, their respective solenoids will be energized and at the same time their respective bulbs will be caused to light up. When thus' energized the armatures of the energized solenoids will be drawn thereinto and cause the respective visible annunciator element to move into registry with one of the ports of the casing, and will be illuminated by the energized bulb behind it. At the same time the audible annunciator will be energized'and will emit a sound attract- Eing. attention to the annunciator.

The operation of the audible annunciator is a very simple one. The moment current flows through the solenoid I4 balls 29 and 29' are drawn inwards. When the flow of current stops, spring 28 moves the ballsv against. the sound producing abutments 30 and 30'. When alternating current is used the interruptionof the current is natural. When direct current is employed an interrupter 32 is required.i That interrupter is directly operated by one of the balls, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

When the operation of one .of the solenoids is completed, thatis, when one of the switches is released, the visible annunciator brought in registry with its respective port of the casing remains in that position until another of the solenoids is energized. By actuating another of the switches, the armatures will be moved, and another annuncator will appear behind its respec- In the event the same switch is operated twice the annunciator will remain in its first assumed position.

In the drawing I have illustrated va row of three solenoids arranged in a substantially straight line. It is obvious however that their relative position may be changed, and that instead of arranging the solenoids in a straight line they may be grouped in a curve, in a circle or in any other convenient manner, as long as their armatures are moved together in sucha way that only one of the visible annunciators will appear in back of one of the ports.

In order to save space and prevent interference of one visible annunciator with .the other, they may be arranged in the manner indicated in Figure 3, one above and two below, or vice versa.

7 The movements of the armatures in the solenoids may be controlled in different ways. and it is not absolutely necessary to employ only three such solenoids in a row, but any number of solenoids and armatures may be grouped together so that the moment one of the solenoids is energized,

. this figure. in various positions.

one another and spaced in the same way as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. There is again seen an armature comprising individual armature members 38, 38' and 38" which are connected with, and spaced from one another by means of non-magnetic spacers 39 and 40. From these spacers project the usual carriers or extensions 4| and 42. In this construction the extensions do not support the visible annunciators, directly, but function in a somewhat different manner.

Independently of the armature are provided fixed pivotal points 43 and 44, which may be in the form of brackets extending from the casing, at which pivotal points are operatively supported by means of levers 45, 45' and 45" visible annunciator elements 46, 46 and 46". These supporting leversare connected with operating levers 41 and '48, which latter engage extensions 4| and 42, respectively. For each annunciator element there are provided the usual ports 49, 49 1'.

and'49.

The leversand the annunciators are shown in Thefull lines denote the position of levers and annunciator elements when solenoid 31 is energized. The

broken lines, marked I, indicate the position of the levers and the annunciator elements assumed when solenoid'3'l is energized, andthe broken lines, marked II, of the middle'annunciator element and its levers indicates the position of the middle annunciator element when solenoid 31' is energized.

The above described illustration is'inte'nded to show that the annunciator elements do not have to be carried'directly by extensions and- 42, as is the case in the previously described form of my device, but that the elements may be operated by a lever arrangement entirely independent of the solenoids and the armatures. It is quite obvious that any other element actuating construction may be employed for achieving the same results of automatically and simultaneously changing the positions of all annunciator elements, and of causing only that annunciator element to become visible, the corresponding solenoid of which has been last energized, while all other annunciator-elements become invisible until their respective solenoids are energized. In order to assure proper operation of my device,'the solenoids as well as the armatures are grouped to form units, which are fixedly held together, while the individual members of each unit' are suitably spaced from one another. This applies to -any desired grouping or arrangement previously mentioned, irrespective of the type of construction "employed for actuating the annunciator'elements.

From the foregoing it is quite evident that my invention is capable of a great many variations,

adjacent solenoids, a plurality of spaced individual armatures 'slidably mounted in said tubue la'r' member, non-magnetic means connectin g-said armatures, carrier means extending from said armature connecting means through said slots of the tubular member, a plurality of spaced visible annunciator elements supported by said carrier means, said annunciator elements being spaced at predetermined distances from each other, different from the spacings between the ports.

2. In an annunciator, a plurality of individually energizable, aligned and equally spaced solenoids, a non-magnetic, tubular member serving as mounting and spacer for said solenoids and. provided with slots extending from one solenoid to the other, a plurality of individual, interconnected armatures, one for each solenoid, operatively disposed within said tubular member, said armatures being aligned and equally spaced at distances different from those separating the solenoids, rigid spacing means connecting said armatures, spaced annunciator elements, one for each solenoid, secured to the spacing means of said armatures, by means of extensions projecting through the slots of said tubular member, said elements corresponding as to their positions and spacings to the positions and spacings of said armatures, a casing enclosing said solenoids and annunciator elements and provided with ports, corresponding as to their spacings to that of said solenoids, the relative spacings of said elements, armatures, solenoids and ports being such that when one solenoid is energized, its corresponding armature will be operated and will cause the corresponding annunciator element to assume a pre-determined, for instance, visible position in back of the port corresponding to the energized solenoid, while all other annunciator elements are moved to an invisible position.

ERNEST G. DE VALERA. 

